Coroner ID's man killed in officer shooting

Tuesday

Aug 5, 2014 at 12:01 AM

STOCKTON - The man shot to death by a California Highway Patrol officer in a northeast Stockton cherry orchard Saturday was identified Monday as Steve Matthew Doll, 40, of Stockton, according to the San Joaquin County Coroner's Office.

The Record

STOCKTON - The man shot to death by a California Highway Patrol officer in a northeast Stockton cherry orchard Saturday was identified Monday as Steve Matthew Doll, 40, of Stockton, according to the San Joaquin County Coroner's Office.

The CHP officer involved, a six-year veteran of the state agency, was responding to a report of a reckless driver shortly after 3 p.m. near East Foppiano Lane and Oneto Road, east of Highway 99. His name has not been released.

Doll had been reported driving recklessly down Foppiano at speeds up to 80 miles per hour, according to a witness who said Doll's pickup nearly struck the man's vehicle. His pickup eventually lost its left rear tire and knocked over a street sign, Roger Ruegsegger said.

Area residents said the man left the roadway and continued south through a field west of Oneto Road before crashing into a tree in an orchard on the east side of the railroad tracks near the south end of Oneto Road.

When the officer arrived, he found the truck, which was still in the orchard, CHP spokesman Officer James Smith said. As the officer approached, Doll, who had been driving, quickly exited the vehicle and advanced toward the officer with a knife, Smith said. The officer ordered Doll to drop the knife, but he did not comply, Smith said. The officer then fired his weapon, striking Doll at least once, Smith said.

The shooting is being reviewed as part of a multiagency protocol investigation, and the officer has been placed on standard paid administrative leave, Smith said.